100 Thanksgiving Trivia Questions to Ask: Fun, Food, and Festivities

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with loved ones, enjoy a hearty meal, and create lasting memories. But in between the turkey and the pumpkin pie, why not add a little fun with some trivia?

Whether you’re hosting a large family gathering or a cozy Friendsgiving, these 100 Thanksgiving trivia questions will spark conversations, laughter, and maybe a bit of friendly competition.

• Related: Friendsgiving Party Games & Activities: Making Your Celebration Unforgettable

From historical facts to food fun and pop culture, this trivia game is the perfect way to keep the festive spirit alive throughout the celebration.

Thanksgiving Trivia Questions to Ask

1. Thanksgiving History Trivia

1. In what year was the first Thanksgiving celebrated?
   Answer: 1621

2. Which president proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday?
   Answer: Abraham Lincoln

3. Which Native American tribe celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims?
   Answer: Wampanoag

4. What was the name of the ship the Pilgrims sailed on to America?
   Answer: The Mayflower

5. How long did the first Thanksgiving celebration last?
   Answer: Three days

6. Which state was the first to adopt Thanksgiving as an annual holiday?
   Answer: New York

7. In what year did Thanksgiving become an official U.S. holiday?
   Answer: 1863

8. Which president moved Thanksgiving up a week to extend the holiday shopping season?
   Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt

9. Which bird did Benjamin Franklin propose as the national bird of the United States?
   Answer: Turkey

10. What was the main dish served at the first Thanksgiving?
    Answer: Venison (deer), not turkey

2. Food & Drink Trivia

11. Which pie is most commonly associated with Thanksgiving?
    Answer: Pumpkin pie

12. What is a baby turkey called?
    Answer: Poult

13. What is the name of the sauce made from cranberries often served at Thanksgiving?
    Answer: Cranberry sauce

14. What is a turducken?
    Answer: A dish consisting of a deboned chicken stuffed into a deboned duck, which is then stuffed into a deboned turkey.

15. How many calories does the average American consume on Thanksgiving Day?
    Answer: About 4,500 calories

16. What type of bread is used to make traditional Thanksgiving stuffing?
    Answer: Stale or day-old bread, usually white or cornbread

17. What is the most popular Thanksgiving side dish in the United States?
    Answer: Mashed potatoes

18. What meat did the Native Americans bring to the first Thanksgiving?
    Answer: Venison

19. Which U.S. city is known for its turkey-trot running race, held on Thanksgiving Day?
    Answer: Dallas

20. Which vegetable was traditionally grown by Native Americans and became a staple at Thanksgiving?
    Answer: Corn (maize)

3. Pop Culture & Entertainment Trivia

21. Which TV show had a famous Thanksgiving episode featuring a “Turkey Drop”?
    Answer: WKRP in Cincinnati

22. Which sitcom featured a Thanksgiving episode where a character put a turkey on their head?
    Answer: Friends (Monica)

23. In the movie “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,” what are the characters trying to do?
    Answer: Get home in time for Thanksgiving

24. Which animated TV special features the song “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”?
    Answer: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

25. In which movie does a character say, “I’m stuffed to the gills”?
    Answer: Addams Family Values

26. What football team always plays on Thanksgiving Day?
    Answer: The Detroit Lions

27. Which Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon was the first to be based on a TV character?
    Answer: Felix the Cat

28. In “Friends,” who gets their head stuck inside a turkey?
    Answer: Joey

29. Which actor famously recited “Alice’s Restaurant” during Thanksgiving?
    Answer: Arlo Guthrie

30. What was the name of the Thanksgiving-themed episode in the series “How I Met Your Mother”?
    Answer: Slapsgiving

• You might like: 100 Fun Thanksgiving Conversation Starters for the Whole Family

4. Thanksgiving Around the World Trivia

31. Which country celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October?
    Answer: Canada

32. What is the name of the harvest festival celebrated in Japan that is similar to Thanksgiving?
    Answer: Kinrō Kansha no Hi (Labor Thanksgiving Day)

33. In which country is the Erntedankfest, a harvest thanksgiving festival, celebrated?
    Answer: Germany

34. Which Caribbean country celebrates a version of Thanksgiving on October 9?
    Answer: Grenada

35. What is the name of the Dutch holiday that is similar to Thanksgiving?
    Answer: Dankdag (Day of Thanks)

36. Which country celebrates Chuseok, a harvest festival similar to Thanksgiving?
    Answer: South Korea

37. In Liberia, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the first Thursday of which month?
    Answer: November

38. Which island nation celebrates Thanksgiving as a day of prayer and fasting?
    Answer: Norfolk Island

39. Which African country celebrates a Thanksgiving festival called Homowo?
    Answer: Ghana

40. Which European country celebrates a harvest festival called Vendemmia?
    Answer: Italy

5. Friendsgiving & Modern Thanksgiving Traditions

41. What year did the term “Friendsgiving” first appear?
    Answer: Around 2007

42. Which streaming platform popularized Friendsgiving with themed episodes?
    Answer: Netflix

43. What is the most common drink served at Friendsgiving?
    Answer: Wine

44. What day is Friendsgiving traditionally celebrated on?
    Answer: The Wednesday before or the Friday after Thanksgiving

45. Which U.S. state consumes the most turkey per capita?
    Answer: California

46. What modern Friendsgiving tradition involves sharing what you’re thankful for?
    Answer: Gratitude circle

47. Which Friendsgiving tradition involves guests bringing dishes to share?
    Answer: Potluck

48. What popular side dish at Friendsgiving combines sweet potatoes and marshmallows?
    Answer: Sweet potato casserole

49. Which Friendsgiving activity involves crafting and decorating?
    Answer: DIY pumpkin decorating

50. What is a common dessert served at Friendsgiving, apart from pie?
    Answer: Brownies or cookies

6. Thanksgiving Facts & Figures

51. How many turkeys are cooked in the U.S. each Thanksgiving?
    Answer: About 46 million

52. How many pumpkin pies are consumed each Thanksgiving?
    Answer: About 50 million

53. Which state is the largest producer of cranberries?
    Answer: Wisconsin

54. How many pounds of potatoes are consumed on Thanksgiving?
    Answer: About 250 million pounds

55. What percentage of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving?
    Answer: About 88%

56. Which country exports the most turkey to the U.S. for Thanksgiving?
    Answer: Mexico

57. What is the average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people?
    Answer: Around $50

58. Which state grows the most pumpkins?
    Answer: Illinois

59. What is the most popular pie flavor for Thanksgiving in the U.S.?
    Answer: Pumpkin pie

60. How much does the average American gain during the Thanksgiving holiday?
    Answer: About 1 to 2 pounds

Friendsgiving Trivia Questions to Ask

7. Fun Thanksgiving & Friendsgiving Traditions

61. What is the name of the parade held annually in New York City on Thanksgiving?
    Answer: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

62. What’s the traditional post-Thanksgiving activity involving shopping?
    Answer: Black Friday shopping

63. What sport is most commonly associated with Thanksgiving?
    Answer: Football

64. What Thanksgiving tradition involves breaking a bird bone for good luck?
    Answer: Breaking the wishbone

65. What is the tradition of pardoning a turkey?
    Answer: The President of the United States pardons a live turkey from being cooked for Thanksgiving.

66. What time does the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade typically start?
    Answer: 9 AM Eastern Time

67. What is the most popular Thanksgiving dessert?
    Answer: Pumpkin pie

68. Which cartoon character is featured as a balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
    Answer: Snoopy

69. What traditional Thanksgiving game involves a hat and a lot of laughs?
    Answer: Thanksgiving charades

70. What annual TV special is watched by many Americans on Thanksgiving?
    Answer: The National Dog Show

8. Thanksgiving Foods & Drinks Trivia

71. What Thanksgiving dish is made from bread, herbs, and sometimes sausage?
    Answer: Stuffing

72. What fruit is commonly used in a sauce served with turkey?
    Answer: Cranberries

73. What Thanksgiving dessert is made from a gourd?
    Answer: Pumpkin pie

74. What is the name of the sweet dish often topped with marshmallows and served at Thanksgiving?
    Answer: Sweet potato casserole

75. What green vegetable is often used in a casserole at Thanksgiving?
    Answer: Green beans

76. What popular Thanksgiving drink is made from apples?
    Answer: Apple cider

77. Which type of pie, other than pumpkin, is commonly served at Thanksgiving?
    Answer: Pecan pie

78. What is the name of the bread often baked in the shape of a cornucopia for Thanksgiving?
    Answer: Cornbread

79. Which type of sauce made from meat drippings is often poured over turkey and mashed potatoes?
    Answer: Gravy

80. What is the name of the side dish made with potatoes, milk, and butter?
    Answer: Mashed potatoes

9. Thanksgiving Day Fun Facts

81. How many years has the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade been running?
    Answer: Since 1924

82. Which Thanksgiving tradition involves watching a big game?
    Answer: Watching NFL football

83. What’s the name of the famous Thanksgiving balloon character that often crashes?
    Answer: Snoopy

84. What U.S. state consumes the most turkey?
    Answer: California

85. What dish was served at the first Thanksgiving that is not commonly served today?
    Answer: Fish

86. How many pies does the average American eat on Thanksgiving?
    Answer: About one slice, or roughly 0.14 pies

87. What annual Thanksgiving activity involves a run or walk to benefit charity?
    Answer: Turkey Trot

88. What popular TV sitcom has numerous Thanksgiving episodes?
    Answer: Friends

89. What Thanksgiving tradition involves a big dinner with friends instead of family?
    Answer: Friendsgiving

90. Which Thanksgiving-themed song was the first ever to be played in space?
    Answer: “Jingle Bells”

10. Friendsgiving & Modern Thanksgiving

91. What year did Friendsgiving become widely popular?
    Answer: Around 2010

92. Which type of drink is commonly enjoyed at Friendsgiving?
    Answer: Wine or cocktails

93. What is the most common dish brought to a Friendsgiving potluck?
    Answer: Mac and cheese

94. Which Friendsgiving activity involves sharing what you’re thankful for?
    Answer: Gratitude circle or thankfulness sharing

95. What’s the name of the social media platform where Friendsgiving became a trend?
    Answer: Instagram

96. Which type of Friendsgiving dish often has a creative twist on a traditional recipe?
    Answer: Fusion dishes (e.g., taco stuffing, pumpkin curry)

97. What is the most popular dessert at Friendsgiving?
    Answer: Brownies or cookies

98. What’s a common Friendsgiving party game?
    Answer: Friendsgiving bingo or trivia

99. Which popular Friendsgiving drink often has a seasonal twist?
    Answer: Pumpkin spice cocktails or apple cider sangria

100. What’s the most important part of Friendsgiving?
     Answer: The friends, of course!

Whether you’re using these trivia questions to entertain your guests during dinner or as a fun activity afterward, they’re sure to bring a lot of joy and maybe even a few surprises.

Thanksgiving is about more than just food; it’s about making connections and sharing moments with those you care about.

So, as you gather around the table, let these trivia questions remind you of the history, traditions, and fun that make Thanksgiving such a special holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!